Hi there "259lzNaj" (quite a use name you got there!). The choice of lens and focal lenght really depends on your need. That said, as an avid amateur here (am no expert) I fell in love with prime lens for three main reasons:

1- In most cases I found the image quality to be far superior to an equivalent zoom;2- low light capability - you will find that prime lens usually have wider aperture than zoom lens3- Shot composition - being an amateur and not a pro, I personally found it easier for me to focus on the picture at hand when I dont need to worry about zooming in a picture. If I shoot 50mm, then I need to set my brain to see the image with a 50mm mindset. I found this helped me a lot.

You will find in my signature that I am a big fan of prime with the one I have. From your question, the 50mm 1.4 is an excellent lens (I owned one) and so is the 24L which I dont yet have. Again it depends on your needs. I almost got the 24L but decided to get a 35mm 1.4L instead because it was more suited to my needs (groups portraits inside when space is limited - if not I use the 50mm or the 85mm).

The 24 is definitively on my wish and so is the wonderful 100L macro lens... What do you plan to use the lens for?

259IzNaj

Thanks for the helpful insights... I totally agree with your points... I just wish i have the funds to get all the prime lenses that i want...

I am not a pro too but i really like the 24 with f1.4. Also, i could use it for travelling and take pictures of whole family with beautiful landmarks or landscapes visible in the background. Again i agree with you with regards to personal needs..

Regarding the 24mm, which body are you using? FF or APS-C? On a FF the 24mm can be tricky when taking people picture as if you are too close it can create some effect (distort a bit the face feature for example) that you may or may not want. This is why I went for a 35mm on my FF 5D.

However if you have an APS-C body like a 7D or 60D, then I would pick the 24 for that purpose for sure over the 35mm...

there's no macro zoom lens yet. so if you need/want 1x magnification (or more ->mp-e 65mm) you have go for a prime lens.that's why i got the 100L. it's a fantastic lens.one other reason is price. normal range primes a usually cheaper and at equivalent apartures as good as zooms.I don't have any ef primes except for the 100 macro. however my two M42 mount lenses are very fun to use and i got both of them and an adapter for less than 20 bucks.

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7D - BG3 Ls - 2 EF - 2 EF-s - 2 M42s430EX II - YN560-III

branden

For my main camera, the 5D MkII, the only lenses I own are the 24L MkII, the Zeiss 2/50 Makro-planar, and the 135L. I used to have many more lenses, both zoom and prime. Occasionally I'll rent something else, but for the most part, these 3 lenses are all I need. Frequently, I won't even carry all three with me when I'm out doing something. I've found that instead of limiting my photos, it's actually made my photos better, as now it's easier to visualize the shot in my head before ever even raising the camera to my eye.

I shoot mostly landscapes and events. Landscapes are easy with prime lenses, just move to where you need to be. Events are easy too, since the fast apertures are very nice, even with flash (which I always use at events), since fast lenses can get photos where the flash effect is subtle.

The makro-planar is only a half-size macro lens, but that's fine with me because I do not shoot macro photos. I use the lens because of it's great sharpness, flat focal plane, and lack of distortion, all of which are great for landscape photos. I also shoot the occasional product photo -- and the macro lens is great for this too.

I could ramble on all day, but this basically just boils down to my shooting style, and what works for me personally, like has already been said.

The nice thing I've discovered with Canon's prime lens lineup, though, is that there are no bad eggs.

When I bought my 5DII the first lenses I picked up were the 24-70 f/2.8 and the 16-35 f/2.8 II. A few months later I found a great deal on a 35L and 50L and bought both. The sharpness is far superior to the zooms, low light performance is ridiculously good, and the bokeh is beautiful.

After that I bought the 100mm L Macro, the 85L, and the 135L, all of which are awesome lenses. I ended up selling the 100 Macro (which I kinda regret now).

I've also owned the 50mm f/1.4 and the 85mm f/1.8, which were both amazing lenses for the money. You can get either for around $350 and both perform as well as $1k+ zooms.

photophreek

When I got back into photography after more than a 30 year break, I started with zooms. The 16-35 II, 70-200 II and the 24-105. I got an amazing deal on a 135L. I was astounded by the sharpness of this lens. I was hooked, time to add primes to the bag. I got the 100L macro, 35L and recently the 85L II - the trinity was complete. Things then got out of hand and because I'm an avid bird photographer, I added the 400 5.6 about six months ago and recently a 500 f4 IS. My next prime addition will be the 24L II or the Zeiss 21 f2.8 - can't decide.

When I got back into photography after more than a 30 year break, I started with zooms. The 16-35 II, 70-200 II and the 24-105. I got an amazing deal on a 135L. I was astounded by the sharpness of this lens. I was hooked, time to add primes to the bag. I got the 100L macro, 35L and recently the 85L II - the trinity was complete. Things then got out of hand and because I'm an avid bird photographer, I added the 400 5.6 about six months ago and recently a 500 f4 IS. My next prime addition will be the 24L II or the Zeiss 21 f2.8 - can't decide.

I've heard nothing but great things about ALL of the Zeiss stuff. All I know is I LOVE my 50L, but I was super impressed when trying out the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 (which is less than 1/2 the price of my 50). I'm debating switching most of my glass out (since Zeiss stuff is without question better for video).

I'm trying to remind myself that I can always buy the L lenses again if I end up not being happy with the switch, I never thought I could be so attached to gear...

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5DIII/5DII/Bunch of L's and ZE's, currently rearranging.

photophreek

Axilrod:I've debated about the 50L many times and looked closely at the 50 1.4 Planar. I shot weddings for years with Hasselblad and Zeiss optics, so I'm very familiar with Zeiss. I'm nervous about the 50L and just started looking at Zeiss. I keep thinking that the 50L will be the 85L II in a different FL, but, regrettably, the 50L is not. Guess it's time to rent the 50L and see what it does. One other prime I will be purchasing when the 5D 3 appears is the 24 TS-E II.

Neuroanatomist:The 500 Mk II was on the list, but the cost was really too much. After using/testing the 500 Mk I for a few weeks, I'm glad and lucky I found such a clean/mint Mk I. "Big whites" need some planning and preparation before heading out to shoot. The 500 Mk II has to drop in price quite a bit b/4 I add it to my big bag.

Axilrod:I've debated about the 50L many times and looked closely at the 50 1.4 Planar. I shot weddings for years with Hasselblad and Zeiss optics, so I'm very familiar with Zeiss. I'm nervous about the 50L and just started looking at Zeiss. I keep thinking that the 50L will be the 85L II in a different FL, but, regrettably, the 50L is not. Guess it's time to rent the 50L and see what it does. One other prime I will be purchasing when the 5D 3 appears is the 24 TS-E II.

I'm a little confused, you said you thought that the 50L would be the 85L II at a different focal length, but the 50L is not (which would lead me to believe you tested it and were disappointed). But then you said it's time to rent and see what it does, did you get the Zeiss and the 50L mixed up?

My 50L can get just as sharp as my 85L II, but I think the 85 is tack sharp more consistently, but I love both of them. The Zeiss glass just seems to produce a different look, it's hard to say whether it's actually better than the L stuff. I'm about to go to the camera shop and shoot some sample footage on the Zeiss primes.

Please share what prime lenses you currently own and why you love them

I have a 50mm F1.4I love this lens for portraits (using a crop-camera Canon 7D). Beautiful bokeh. And, good in situations with less light or where flash is not allowed

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and what are the lenses you would like to have

I would like to have a Canon 85mm F1.8 The 85mm lens I will also use for making portraits. However this lens will help me to make more close-up photos where I don't need to push the lens into their faces (I know about alternatives but they are currently not in the budget)

(but I have to wait for this lens since I will purchase my new sportslens first)